5 highlights of the project trip
by foundation founder Michael Hoppe and CEO Andreas Roß
In spring, i.e. in Namibian autumn, the time had come again - foundation founder Michael Hoppe and CEO Andreas Roß travelled to Namibia together. Namibia and Zimbabwe and spent a good two weeks taking part in team meetings, visiting the steps facilities and analysing successes and progress, planning future changes and restructuring and addressing challenges together with the respective site managers and the National Coordinator Sonja Schneider-Waterberg.
If you are planning a trip to Namibia soon - why not visit some of these places and see for yourself what your donations can achieve.
1. learning location Rehoboth
On the very first day after our arrival, we travelled to Rehoboth to visit the Otto Xamseb facility and our partner organisation Bridge of Hope.
With Bridge of Hope In future, even more children who are not at steps kindergarten and preschool will be provided with hot meals.
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With Otto Xamseb we offer our steps children more and more stimulating play opportunities and learning environments.
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2. extensions in Gobabis
Afterwards we went to Gobabis, where possible remodelling work was discussed and further activities are planned: A steps toddler and kindergarten group will be established in the former rooms of the computer school. This will enable us to offer children from Epako, the neighbouring poor district, early childhood education and support and lay the foundations for their future education. We will nevertheless continue to work with our co-operation partner Light for the Children and enrol our kindergarten children in the Light for the Children pre-school.
The former PC school, which is now to be given a new use.
From left: Sonja Schneider-Waterberg, Jackie Sanjath and Michael Hoppe in the former PC school.
Martha Naris, pictured here on the left, looks after the guest house in Gobabis and talks to Sonja Schneider-Waterberg.
3rd Happy Birthday Okakarara
The big celebration for the 18th birthday of steps Okakarara took place on 15 March 2024. The first steps facility, which started with 30 children in a preschool and soup kitchen in Namibia in 2006, now supports over 200 children and young people. With many, very appreciative words, the team in Okakarara, members of the trust and close companions as well as invited guests - but also you, dear supporters and sponsors - celebrated the birthday together.
Here you can read the wonderful entries in our guestbook again:
The birthday in pictures:
Dear supporters and friends, we are very happy that we were able to celebrate the 18th birthday of our first steps project! Without your continued support, it would hardly have been possible for us to reach this age of majority. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your commitment in so many different areas.
4. news from Windhoek
No children were found at our newest facility, Single Quarter in Katutura, due to holidays.
As a result of various planning meetings, we have been able to admit more children to a new pre-school group since April. You can read more about this here:
5. off to Zimbabwe
After four years, the Board of Directors has now been able to travel to Zimbabwe again and visit the projects that have been created through the cooperation with Plan International and Stiftung Hilfe mit Plan. Due to the tight time frame, they mainly looked at the income-generating measures. Michael Hoppe and Andreas Roß were fascinated by the progress and success of the project to date:
„We were impressed by the tireless efforts of the local people in Zimbabwe. They have successfully adapted the fish ponds and even created more ponds to support themselves after the programme was completed. This form of income-generating activity provides a long-term source of income for the participating community and helps to alleviate abject poverty.“
Would you like to get to know our steps facilities in Namibia personally?
Then find out about the options here:
